Reconfigurable apparel and furniture

ABSTRACT

An apparel system including interchangeable accessories, as well as a furniture system including interchangeable, decorative covers and accessories, are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the decorative accessories have a unitary structure including a decorative portion and a flexible band that houses magnetic connectors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional Application No.60/717,234, entitled Reconfigurable Apparel and Furniture and filed on16 Sep. 2005, as well as to Provisional Application No. 60/719,312,entitled Portable/Reconfigurable Headboard Kit and filed on 21 Sep.2005. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to an apparel system includinginterchangeable accessories, as well as to a furniture system includinginterchangeable, decorative covers and accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates perspective views of pants-type apparel for use withassociated decorative accessories.

FIG. 2 illustrates perspective views of jacket-type apparel for use withassociated decorative accessories.

FIG. 3 illustrates perspective views of skirt-type and blouse-typeapparel for use with associated decorative accessories.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views of footwear apparel for usewith associated decorative accessories.

FIG. 6 illustrate close-up views of decorative accessories include anattachment mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates perspective views of stocking-type apparel for usewith associated decorative accessories.

FIG. 8 illustrates perspective views of furniture and curtains for usewith associated decorative accessories.

Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elementsthroughout this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-8 illustrate reconfigurable apparel according to an embodimentof the present invention. As shown, the articles of clothing or apparelmay include, but are not limited to, outerwear such as jacket-typearticles (FIG. 1), pants (FIG. 2), skirt-type and blouse-type articles(FIG. 3), and footwear such as shoes (FIGS. 4 and 5) and socks,stockings, or boots (FIG. 6). Additional apparel may include headwearsuch as hats and caps, handbags, dress shirts, suit jackets, etc. Theapparel may be adapted (modified) to receive accessory attachments thatalter the overall presentation or appearance of the particular articleof clothing. In another embodiment of the present invention, theaccessory attachments are adapted to connect to unmodified base apparel.Each piece of base apparel is specifically manufactured with connectorportions to receive the accessory options. The accessory attachments mayinclude, but are not limited to, attachments that trim clothing (e.g.,frill, lace, etc.), as well as decorative elements (plastic flowers,beads, rhinestones, etc.). For example, in FIG. 1, a pair of pants 10may be adapted to couple with a waist accessory 15A, 15B, 15C. The waistaccessory 15A, 15B, 15C may include, but is not limited to, a band ofmaterial comprising different patterns, fabrics, or decorative elements,as well as a pant hem (pant cuff) accessory 20A, 20B, 20C similarlycomprising a band of material comprising various fabrics and materials.For example, the pant hem accessory 20A comprises a fabric panel withtassels. In accordance with the present invention, the pants 10 mayinclude snaps and or hooks, buttons, or zippers, depending on theoverall pant design and the weight of the accessory to be attachedthereto. In operation, a user simply connects the desired accessory 15A,15B, 15C, 20A, 20B to the pair of pants 10. Should the user desire toalter the overall appearance of the pair of pants 10, the user maysubstitute one accessory for another. Specifically, the user may removeone waist accessory 15A and replace it with another waist accessory 15B,or the user may simply remove the waist accessory and not replace it.

Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, jacket-type apparel 100, 105 (e.g.,a rain jacket, a suit jacket, a sport jacket, etc.) may be adapted toreceive a collar accessory 110A, 110B, 110C or a cuff accessory 115A,115B that removably attaches along the neck opening of the jacket 100,105, or along the cuff of the sleeve of the jacket 100, 105,respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the appearance of skirt-type apparel200, dress-type apparel 205, and blouse-type apparel 220 may also bereconfigured using interchangeable accessories. For example, skirt-typeapparel 200 may be configured to receive to a hem decoration 210A, 210B(e.g., a frill, a plaid hem, a lace hem, a tasseled hem etc.), as wellas a waist decoration 215 (e.g., a border with a flower). Similarly, theappearance of a blouse-type apparel 220 or dress-type apparel 205 may bealtered via the attachment of interchangeable trims 230A, 230B, 230C,230D that connect along the bottom (hem) of the blouse or across thechest of the blouse (e.g., across the scoop/v-neck of the blouse/dress).

Referring to FIG. 4, the appearance of different types of shoe apparel300 may be reconfigured via the interchangeable accessories. The shoes300 may be configured to receive to the shoe accessories 310A, 310B,310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H such as bows, flowers, beads, andpanels disposed along the top front portion of the shoe. The accessoriesmay connect to the shoes via clips, buttons, snaps, etc. Some of theshoe accessories (310A, 310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H) may tothe shoe 300 with a clip, usually metal, unless other more suitable clipoptions are available. Other shoe accessories (310A, 310B, 310C, 310D,310E, 310F, 310G, 310H) may not be attached to the shoe 300 at all. Theaccessories (310A, 310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H) maycomprise ornaments that slip onto the foot by means of elastic or otherstretch fabric bandings (e.g., lycra, spandex, nylon or a combination ofany of these fibers). When placed on the foot, the accessories (310A,310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H) lays over the shoe or the archof the upper foot and this, both accessory styles (attached directly tothe shoe 300 or slipped over the foot) visually appear to be a part ofthe shoe 300. For example, the shoe accessories 310A, 310B, 310C, 310D,310E, 310F, 310G, 310H may comprise an elastic band that frictionallyengages the front or tongue of the shoe 300. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 5, the shoe 300 may further include a loop or eyelet 320 locatedproximate the rear upper edge of the shoe 300. The loop or eyelet 320 isconfigured to receive an accessory 330A, 330B, 330C, 330D, 330E such asdecorative ribbon or band that extends through the loop and wraps aroundthe foot/ankle of the user.

Alternatively or in addition to, each interchangeable accessory 310A,310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H may magnetically connect to ashoe 300 or other apparel item. FIG. 6 shows perspective views aninterchangeable accessory 310A and 310E according to an embodiment ofthe invention. As shown, the accessory 310A and 310E may include aunitary structure with a decorative portion 312 and a band of flexiblematerial 314 (e.g., felt, cloth, etc.) coupled to the decorative portion312 (i.e., the flexible band 314 extends away from the decorativeportion 312, forming a tail). A first magnet 340 may be positioned alongthe back of the decorative portion 312 and a second magnet 350 may bepositioned within the flexible band 314. In one embodiment of theinvention, the first magnet 340 may be disposed proximate one end of theflexible band 314, while the second magnet 350 may be disposed proximatethe opposing end of the band 314. The portion of the band 314 includingthe first magnet 340 may, in turn, be integrally coupled to the rearsurface of the decorative accessory 310A, 310E using attachmentmechanisms such as permanent adhesives, sewing, etc. Similarly, themagnets 340, 350 may be secured within the band 314 via adhesives,sewing, etc. The first 340 and second 350 magnets may be configured toalign with each other; consequently, when a portion of the apparel itemis placed in between the magnets, the magnets are drawn toward eachother, capturing a portion of the apparel item therebetween. Inoperation, a user selects an accessory 310A, 310B, 310C, 310D, 310E,310F, 310G, 310H and positions the apparel item (e.g., a shoe 300)between the two magnets 340, 350. When the magnets 340, 350 are aligned,their respective attraction captures the apparel item between themagnets 340, 350 thus securing the decorative accessory 310A, 310B,310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H to the apparel item such that thedecorative accessory 310A, 310B, 310C, 310D, 310E, 310F, 310G, 310H isdisplayed.

Referring to FIG. 7, boots 400 may be ornamentally reconfigured throughthe use of a stocking 410 adapted to fit within the boot and extendaround an upper portion 405 of the exterior of the boot. The materialcomprising the stocking 410 is not limited and may comprise nylon,lycra, spandex or any combination of these fabric fibers, but may alsobe made from cotton or cotton blends dependant on the overall design ofthe ornamented stocking as a whole. The uppermost portion of eachstocking 410 may include a decorative panel 415A, 415B, 415C, 415Dcomprising various textures, fabrics, or decorative elements. Forexample, the decorative panels may comprise fur, lace, denim, etc. Thedecorative panels 415A, 415B, 415C, 415D may be permanently or removablyconnected to the stockings 410 (e.g., by sewing, buttons, snaps, etc.).The stockings 410 are configured such that when the stocking portion towhich the decorative panel (415A, 415B, 415C, 415D) is attached ispositioned over the upper portion 405 of the exterior of the boot 400,the decorative panel 415A, 415B, 415C, 415D is displayed (i.e., thepanel drapes over the sides of the boot 400 so that it is displayed.Thus, in operation, a user may place her foot into the stocking 410, andthen insert her foot into the boot 400. Once inserted, the uppermostedge of the stocking 410 may be placed over the uppermost edge of theboot 400 to expose the decorative panel 415A, 415B, 415C, 415D, as seenin FIG. 7. In this manner, a user can alter the appearance of the boot400 by simply changing the decorative panel (415A, 415B, 415C, 415D)along the top of the boot. Alternatively, the decorative panel 415A,415B, 415C, 415D could be removably attached to the upper portion 405 ofthe exterior of the boot 400 (via any suitable attachment means).

The mechanism by which the accessories couple to the particular piece ofapparel is not limited. For example, the accessories may connect to theapparel via snaps (e.g., the apparel may include the male portion of thesnap with the accessory including the female portion of the snap),buttons, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, etc. The material comprisingthe accessory devices is not limited, and may include fabric of variouspatterns and designs, fur, lace, chains, beads, crystals, stones,pearls, etc.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the appearance offurniture pieces may be altered via interchangeable decorativeattachments. For example, referring to FIG. 8, a headboard 500 for a bed505 may be enveloped in a decorative cover 512 configured to eitherconnect to the headboard directly (e.g., via snaps), or to completelyenclose the headboard 500 (the cover 512 being secured to the headboard500. The decorative cover 512 may comprise fabric such as cotton orsilk. Alternatively, decorative overlays 515A, 515B, 515C, 515D may beapplied to tables 520, chests 525, or dressers 530 to provide furniturewith a reconfigurable appearance. By way of example, decorative overlayaccessories 515A, 515B may comprise fabric, paper, vinyl, orornamentally printed plastics, with a backing of pressure sensitiveadhesive, enabling the overlay accessories to be removed and replacedwhen desired. Additionally, a the appearance of a drapery 540 (e.g., ashower curtain, a window curtain, etc.) may be reconfigured usingdecorative accessory panels 550A, 550B, 550C, 550D including slotsconfigured to align with connectors (slots, buttons, snaps, etc.)mounted to the drapery 540. The connectors enable the connection of thedecorative accessory panels 550A, 550B, 550C, 550D to the drapery 540.Additionally, decorative hanging elements 580 may further be providedthat are adapted to connect to the decorative accessory panels 550A,550B, 550C, 550D to provide additional interchangeable decorativeaccents. The decorative hanging elements 580 may connect to theaccessory panels 550A, 550B, 550C, 550D or to the drapery 540 viaconventional fasteners, including but not limited to, pins, buttons,snaps, hooks, hook and loop fasteners, etc.

The above described invention enables a user to purchase a singleclothing item and alter the look of the clothing item throughout itslifetime. With the present invention, a user could buy the base elementof clothing, and then purchase each accessory for that base element asdesired. The user is then capable of reconfiguring the base elementusing multiple interchangeable accessories as desired. In addition, auser may buy multiple base elements (e.g., a rain coat and a suit coat),and interchange the same accessory between the elements.

1. Reconfigurable apparel comprising: a base element comprising anarticle of clothing including an attachment point; a first decorativeaccessory device adapted to connect to the base element via theattachment point; and a second decorative accessory device adapted toremovably connect to the base element via the attachment point, whereina user may selectively attach the first accessory device and the secondaccessory device to the base element.
 2. The storage device of claim 1,wherein the article of clothing is selected from the group consisting ofouterwear, footwear, blouses, dress shirts, shoes, and boots. 3.Reconfigurable furniture comprising: a base element comprising an pieceof furniture including an attachment point; a first decorative accessorydevice adapted to connect to the base element via the attachment point;and a second decorative accessory device adapted to removably connect tothe base element via the attachment point, wherein a user mayselectively attach the first accessory device and the second accessorydevice to the base element.
 4. A decorative accessory adapted to coupleto an apparel item comprising: a unitary structure including: adecorative portion including a first magnet; and a second magnettethered to the first magnet via flexible band, wherein the secondmagnet is configured to align with the first magnet to capture anapparel item therebetween, displaying the decorative article thereon. 5.The decorative accessory of claim 4, wherein the flexible band housesboth the first magnet and the second magnet.
 6. The decorative accessoryof claim 5, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are coupledto the flexible band via sewing.
 7. The decorative accessory of claim 4,wherein the apparel item captured by the magnets is a shoe.